How to Buy Device Insurance Through TIPS Without an RFP

You've run the numbers. Your district needs device protection, the budget line is approved, and you're ready to move. Then someone asks: "What's the procurement path?"

If your district is a TIPS member, the answer is simpler than you think. AKKO device insurance is available through TIPS contract 250106, which means most member districts can buy without a formal request for proposal.

What TIPS Contract 250106 Covers

TIPS — The Interlocal Purchasing System — is a national purchasing cooperative serving schools, cities, counties and nonprofits. When your district joins TIPS, you gain access to competitively solicited contracts that meet state and local procurement requirements.

AKKO holds TIPS contract 250106 for K–12 device protection. The contract covers:

• District-funded plans for Chromebooks, iPads, laptops and tablets
• Accidental damage, theft, loss and mechanical breakdown coverage
• New, used and refurbished devices in fleets of any size
• Multi-year and mid-year prorated starts

Because TIPS has already conducted the competitive solicitation, member districts typically satisfy their procurement rules with one purchase order against the contract number.

The Usual Path: Quote, Approve, Purchase

Here's what the timeline looks like when you buy through TIPS:

No RFP drafting, no vendor comparison matrix, no board presentation deck. The TIPS contract provides the competitive documentation your purchasing office needs.

When You Still Need Board Approval

Skipping an RFP does not mean skipping internal approvals. Many districts require board approval for contracts above a certain dollar threshold — often $50,000 or $100,000 depending on state law and local policy.

AKKO can provide a sample board memo on request. The memo typically includes the TIPS contract number, the per-device cost, the total annual spend, proof of the carrier's A.M. Best rating, and a summary of coverage terms. Your business official adapts it to match your board's format.

The Paperwork AKKO Provides

Your purchasing office will ask for standard vendor documents. AKKO keeps these ready and current:

• W-9 for tax reporting
• Certificate of insurance naming your district
• TIPS contract 250106 reference and solicitation history
• Sample board memo and coverage summary
• Vendor setup forms for your accounting system

Most districts are set up as a new vendor within a week of the first request.

What If Your District Isn't a TIPS Member?

TIPS membership is open to all government and nonprofit entities. Annual fees are typically modest — often a few hundred dollars — and many states have their own regional cooperatives with reciprocal agreements.

If your district uses a different cooperative (TCPN, NJPA, Sourcewell, E&I), ask your AKKO contact whether a comparable contract exists. If not, your district can join TIPS or proceed with a traditional RFP. AKKO will respond to either path.

Why This Matters for Mid-Year Starts

Districts that self-insure often realize mid-year that repair costs are running higher than budgeted. A traditional RFP can take 90 to 120 days from draft to award. The TIPS contract compresses that to the time it takes to get one PO approved.

AKKO prorates coverage for mid-year starts, so you pay only for the months remaining in the school year. A district starting coverage in January pays roughly half the annual per-device rate, and claims filed after the effective date are covered immediately.

The Bottom Line

TIPS contract 250106 removes the RFP step for member districts buying AKKO device protection. You still need internal approvals — budget sign-off, vendor setup, sometimes a board vote — but the competitive solicitation is already done. One quote, one PO, and your fleet is covered.

Get a group quote — a 15-minute call and a written per-device price within one business day.